I’m in a new chapter of life, and I’ve decided to go back to the things that have always been the most therapeutic for me — writing, creating, and letting my hands learn something new. So here I am, mixing a little flour with a little heart-work. Trying sourdough. Trying new hobbies. Maybe sharing some chicken stories or garden wins or whatever is happening around the house.
This season is about finding myself again — slowly, gently, one small project at a time.
And if you’re also in a season of rediscovering who you are, you’re welcome to join me.
Maybe, in our own little ways, we’ll find ourselves together. So check in each week for a new post and let's take this journey together.
I posted a silly, off-the-wall ChatGPT-inspired BTS version of sourdough bread directions… and suddenly people from every corner of ARMY social media were asking for a copy and for MORE.
More recipes.
More chaos.
More BTS in the kitchen.
And you know me, I always live by the motto: "If you fling it, you fling it." So, here we go - the start of a whole new series I never saw coming but now love with my entire purple heart. Be on the lookout for new recipes - BANGTAN style.
Why Sourdough, Why BTS?
If you’ve followed me for a bit, you know a few things are true:
- I have a severe math deficiency.
- I was recently laid off and have a lot of time to try new things.
- We've had a lot of loss in our lives recently so I needed a grief hobby. Don't ask me why, but sourdough became it.
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I am deeply committed to finding joy in the most unexpected places. I mean come on, don't we kind of have to these days in order to overcome so much negativity coming at us?
Sourdough — with all of its ratios and hydration percentages and “use a scale!” energy — scared me. Watching sourdough social media influencers didn't instill me with confidence, but instead, made me want to NEVER try it.
But somehow… ChatGPT turning each ingredient into a BTS member made the whole thing feel doable. Or, at least it would be a heck of a lot more fun if I failed!
Suddenly the starter wasn’t a stress; it was Jungkook trying to overachieve.
The flour wasn’t technical; it was Namjoon being philosophical.
The water wasn’t math; it was Jimin bringing everything together.
And the heat? Obviously Yoongi, silently preheating the oven to “angry hot.”
It made the idea of baking fun.
It made it silly. And it clocked each member to a T.
It also reminded me that everyday life gets a lot more Magic Shop-ible when we let ourselves play a little.
💜 The Recipe: “The OT7 Loaf”
Below you’ll find the "directions" for an OT7 Sourdough Loaf, complete with ingredient roles, chaotic kitchen energy, and seven different personalities interfering in your process.
This sourdough recipe is for people who:
✔ failed math
✔ love BTS
✔ need comfort
✔ want to laugh
✔ or simply want a loaf that tastes like good vibes
Thanks for being here,
Thanks for supporting the chaos,
And thanks for letting me build something silly and beautiful with you.
Now…
Let Yoongi preheat that oven.
Jungkook is already bubbling over.
💜 Stef
STEP 1: Wake Up Your Starter — ft. Jungkook (The Overachiever Bubble King)
Your starter is Jungkook.
Meaning:
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It wants to perform
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It wants to grow
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It wants to impress you
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And it will absolutely overachieve if you feed it
Feed “Jungkook” one scoop of flour and one scoop of water.
He will immediately double in size because he can't help himself.
STEP 2: Scoop Out the Extra — ft. Yoongi (The Grumpy Jar Guardian)
Yoongi stands over your starter like:
“Too much. Remove some. I’m serious.”
You take out half.
Yoongi nods once.
Then he goes back to sleep on your counter.
He’s done his part.
STEP 3: Mix Your Dough — ft. Namjoon (The Thoughtful Flour)
The flour?
That’s Namjoon.
Strong. Intellectual. Full of depth.
You add three scoops of Namjoon to the bowl.
He immediately gets metaphorical:
“Flour teaches us that even when life feels dry, all it takes is a little water to become whole.”
You nod.
You do not understand the metaphor.
You mix anyway.
STEP 4: Add Water — ft. Jimin (The Soft, Perfect Hydration Fairy)
The water is Jimin.
Gentle. Essential. Brings everything together.
As soon as you pour him in, he smiles and says,
“Let’s make this dough beautiful, okay?”
… and suddenly the bowl looks prettier.
STEP 5: Add Jung Kook the starter — ft. Hobi (The Sunshine Fermentation Spark)
Hobi is the one who brings it all to life.
The second he hits the bowl:
✨ The dough immediately feels happier. ✨
It also starts rising faster because he radiates +3 sunshine stats.
STEP 6: The Fold — ft. Jin (Worldwide Handsome Stretch-and-Fold Coach)
Jin rolls up with a bandana and goes:
“Everyone relax, I will show you proper technique.”
He grabs an imaginary piece of dough, stretches it dramatically—
then slaps it down like he’s making RJ-shaped noodles.
You imitate him.
Your dough looks 37% prettier just because Jin said so.
STEP 7: Proofing — ft. RM Again (He Tidies, He Breaks Things, He Retreats)
You leave your dough to rise.
Namjoon tries to help by cleaning the counter…
then breaks your spatula.
Then apologizes.
Then writes you a poem about resilience.
In the background, the dough rises like it’s trying to escape the bowl.
STEP 8: Shape the Dough — ft. Taehyung (The Artistic Shaping Consultant)
Taehyung shows up wearing an apron he absolutely did NOT need.
He says, “Make it soft. Elegant. Round… like this.”
He gestures vaguely, like he’s shaping the dough with imaginary air.
You do your best.
Your dough looks mysterious now and probably has more charisma.
STEP 9: Bake — ft. Yoongi (Yes, he’s back) & Jin (Safety Officer)
Yoongi preheats the oven to “angry hot” without speaking.
Jin keeps reminding you to use oven mitts because “you are squishy and fragile.”
You put the dough inside.
It becomes a loaf that looks like it was professionally photographed for a cookbook.
Everyone pretends not to be impressed.
STEP 10: The Reveal — ft. OT7
You cut into the loaf.
It crackles perfectly.
The crumb looks beautiful.
The members react as follows:
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Namjoon: analyzes the philosophical meaning of bread
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Jin: says “Of course it’s perfect, you had me helping”
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Yoongi: mutters “not bad” which means it’s excellent
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Hobi: claps like you just won MasterChef
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Jimin: hugs you and the bread
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Taehyung: takes aesthetic photos with it
- Jung Kook eats half the bread while everyone is talking
Below are the directions I will be following to make my sourdough, but don't trust me! There are so many wonderful bakers out there. Find some and use their tried and true recipes. Remember, I'm just here for the snickers. :)
Instructions
1. Mix the Dough
In a large bowl, stir together the starter and warm water until mostly dissolved.
Add the flour, and salt and mix until no dry spots remain.
Cover the bowl and let it rest for 30 minutes.
2. Begin Folds
Gently fold the dough.
Over the next 2–3 hours, perform 3–4 sets of stretch-and-folds (every 30–45 minutes):
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Grab the dough from one side, stretch upward, fold over.
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Rotate the bowl and repeat 3–4 times.
3. Bulk Fermentation
Cover the bowl and let the dough rise at room temperature until puffy and doubled.
This usually takes 4–6 hours, depending on your starter and your home’s temperature.
4. Shape the Dough
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
Shape it into a tight round or oval loaf.
Place in a floured proofing basket or bowl lined with a floured towel.
5. Final Rise
Let the dough rise for 1–2 hours at room temperature,
OR refrigerate overnight (8–12 hours) for deeper flavor and easier scoring.
6. Preheat & Bake
Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) with a Dutch oven inside.
Carefully place the dough (seam side down) onto parchment paper and lower it into the hot pot.
Bake:
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30 minutes covered
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15–20 minutes uncovered, until golden brown
7. Cool Completely
Let the loaf cool at least 1 hour before slicing.
Thanks for being here with me. Truly.
If you like this kind of heart-work mixed with real life — the healing, the humor, the rediscovering-who-we-are — you might love my book I Just Woke Up.
It’s just me, telling the fuller version of the story.
If you ever feel like grabbing a cup of coffee and reading along, it’s there waiting for you.
